Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment and Survival Rate

July 13, 2024

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Alex Herrera, M.D., associate professor, division of lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte

Treatment plans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a type of blood cancer, are customized to each patient. Each treatment plan is based on the cancer’s type, stage, the patient’s age and personal preferences.

This guide to non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment options and survival rates aims to provide more information for patients and their families.

How Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated?

Several treatment options are available for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A multidisciplinary care team will recommend a custom treatment plan for each patient, as the various types and stages of NHL are each treated differently.

The treatment process may be lengthy, especially for high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, who may undergo long periods of chemotherapy treatment. Patients may benefit from having a support system in place before they begin their treatment.

The most commonly used treatments for NHL are listed below.

Watchful waiting: If a patient has low-grade NHL and is not experiencing non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms, the care team may decide to monitor the cancer closely and delay active treatment until it is needed, to avoid unnecessary side effects. This is known as watchful waiting, or watch and wait.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy, which uses medication to destroy cancer cells, is the most common treatment for NHL. It is administered intravenously (through a vein) or orally, and a patient may be given one or several types of chemotherapy medications. This treatment may also be combined with other treatments, including stem cell transplants, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

Stem cell transplantation: During a stem cell transplant, bone marrow cells in the body are replaced with healthy cells, either from a donor (allogeneic) or harvested from the patient and conditioned (autologous). Before transplanting the healthy cells, high doses of chemotherapy are given, knowing that harmed cells will be restored. This is used as a treatment option for NHL patients who are in remission or whose cancer has recurred.

Radiation therapy: External beam radiation uses an external device to administer radiation (high-energy X-rays or other radiation) to destroy cancer cells. It may be used as a standalone treatment for early-stage NHL, or it may be combined with other treatments, including chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. In advanced cases of NHL, radiation therapy may be used to ease the patient’s symptoms.

Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy uses medications to identify and target cancer cells, often by suppressing proteins responsible for the growth of cancer cells. It may be used for certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy boosts the immune system’s ability to identify and destroy cancer cells. When treating NHL with immunotherapy, synthetic proteins called monoclonal antibodies, which are replicas of proteins naturally found in the body, help the immune system stop the growth of cancer cells.

Surgery: Surgery is not a commonly used treatment for NHL, except when performing a diagnostic biopsy or when an organ must be removed because the cancer has spread.

New treatments are always being developed, so some NHL patients may qualify for clinical trials, a way to access innovative treatments under study while still receiving the highest level of care.

Each treatment option may cause side effects, but a patient’s care team will explain what to expect and guide each patient in managing these symptoms.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Survival Rate

Survival rates for non-Hodgkin lymphoma are constantly improving, thanks to new innovations in research and treatments. These rates are a statistical tool that estimates the percentage of patients who are alive five years or more after their original diagnosis. The estimates are based on past data and do not account for recent advances in lymphoma care.

The five-year relative survival rate for NHL is 74.3%, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, every person’s circumstances are unique, so patients should talk to their doctor about their potential health outcomes and the impacts of their cancer diagnosis.